EP0713352B1 - Beleuchtungsgerät mit Entladungslampe - Google Patents

Beleuchtungsgerät mit Entladungslampe Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0713352B1
EP0713352B1 EP95118135A EP95118135A EP0713352B1 EP 0713352 B1 EP0713352 B1 EP 0713352B1 EP 95118135 A EP95118135 A EP 95118135A EP 95118135 A EP95118135 A EP 95118135A EP 0713352 B1 EP0713352 B1 EP 0713352B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lamp
lighting
discharge
discharge lamp
current
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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EP95118135A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0713352A3 (de
EP0713352A2 (de
Inventor
Koji Miyazaki
Makoto Horiuchi
Shigeru Horii
Satoshi Kominami
Tatsushi Higuchi
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Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
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Priority claimed from JP29104594A external-priority patent/JP3189602B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP2707495A external-priority patent/JP3189609B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP21583495A external-priority patent/JP3189641B2/ja
Application filed by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd filed Critical Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Publication of EP0713352A2 publication Critical patent/EP0713352A2/de
Publication of EP0713352A3 publication Critical patent/EP0713352A3/de
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Publication of EP0713352B1 publication Critical patent/EP0713352B1/de
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
    • H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
    • H05B41/26—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc
    • H05B41/28—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc using static converters
    • H05B41/288—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc using static converters with semiconductor devices and specially adapted for lamps without preheating electrodes, e.g. for high-intensity discharge lamps, high-pressure mercury or sodium lamps or low-pressure sodium lamps
    • H05B41/2881—Load circuits; Control thereof
    • H05B41/2882—Load circuits; Control thereof the control resulting from an action on the static converter
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
    • H01J61/02—Details
    • H01J61/12—Selection of substances for gas fillings; Specified operating pressure or temperature
    • H01J61/18—Selection of substances for gas fillings; Specified operating pressure or temperature having a metallic vapour as the principal constituent
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
    • H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
    • H05B41/26—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc
    • H05B41/28—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc using static converters
    • H05B41/288—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc using static converters with semiconductor devices and specially adapted for lamps without preheating electrodes, e.g. for high-intensity discharge lamps, high-pressure mercury or sodium lamps or low-pressure sodium lamps
    • H05B41/292—Arrangements for protecting lamps or circuits against abnormal operating conditions
    • H05B41/2928—Arrangements for protecting lamps or circuits against abnormal operating conditions for protecting the lamp against abnormal operating conditions
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B20/00—Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a discharge lamp-lighting apparatus which lights a discharge lamp with a lighting waveform having frequency components which excite the mode in which the acoustic resonance makes the discharge arc straight, in order to reduce the bending of the discharge arc due to the gravitational inductive convection harmful to the discharge lamp.
  • the present invention relates to a discharge lamp-lighting apparatus which lights a discharge lamp with a lighting waveform which amplifies the amplitude of compressional wave emitted from the discharge arc during a period of low vapor pressure of a filler such as metal halide and mercury, in order to make the discharge arc stably and always straight.
  • the present invention is particularly useful for the HID lamp (High Intensity Discharge lamp).
  • the present invention relates to a discharge lamp-lighting apparatus which controls the bending of the discharge arc of the discharge lamp and forms more than one light-arranging patterns with one discharge lamp, and the present invention is particularly useful for head lights for vehicles.
  • the HID lamp has been widely applied for the outdoor lighting field and the like because of the characteristics such as high efficiency and a long life.
  • the metal halide lamp has excellent color rendering properties and is becoming popular not only in the outdoor lighting field but also in the indoor lighting field, making the best use of these characteristics, and attracts attention as a light source of picturing devices and a light source of head lights for vehicles.
  • One conventional discharge lamp-lighting apparatus has been described in Collected Papers No. 10 of Tokyo Local Meeting of the Lighting Society in 1983. This discharge lamp-lighting apparatus will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 19.
  • Fig. 19 is a basic structural view of the conventional discharge lamp-lighting apparatus described above.
  • 101 represents a metal halide lamp as a discharge lamp
  • 102 represents a lighting circuit for starting and lighting the metal halide lamp 101.
  • the lighting circuit 102 is composed of a direct-current power supply, a full bridge invertor circuit 104 as an invertor circuit and a starting means 105.
  • the direct-current power supply 103 is composed of an alternating-current power supply 106 for commercial use, a rectification smoothing circuit 107 for converting the output of the commercial-use alternating-current power supply 106 to the direct current through rectification and smoothing, and a step-down chopper circuit 116 composed of a transistor 108, a diode 109, a choke coil 110, a condenser 111, resistors 112, 113 and 114, and a control circuit 115 for inputting the output of the rectifying and smoothing circuit 107 and controlling the power to be supplied to the metal halide lamp 101 to a predetermined value.
  • the step-down chopper circuit 116 detects the output voltage by the resistors 112 and 113, and detects the output current by the resistor 114 to calculate the two detected signals by the control circuit 115, and controls ON/OFF of the transistor 108 with the output signal of the control circuit 115 so that the output power of the step-down chopper circuit 116 becomes the predetermined value.
  • the output voltage of the step-down chopper circuit 116 is a predetermined direct voltage, and the output voltage waveform of the step-down chopper circuit 116 is shown in Fig. 20 (a).
  • the full bridge invertor circuit 104 is composed of transistors 117, 118, 119 and 120, and a drive circuit 121, and has a structure that the output of the step-down chopper circuit 116 is converted to the alternating current by alternately controlling ON/OFF of transistors 117 and 120, and transistors 118 and 119 by the output signal of the drive circuit 121.
  • the starting means 105 has such a structure that a high-pressure pulse is generated for starting the metal halide lamp 101.
  • the control circuit 115 calculates the signal proportional to the lamp current of the metal halide lamp 101 detected by resistors 112 and 113, and the signal proportional to the lamp voltage of the metal halide lamp 101 detected by a resistor 114, and controls ON/OFF of the transistor 108 so that the power supplied to the metal halide lamp 101 becomes the rated lamp power, and a predetermined direct voltage is output from the step-down chopper circuit 116 and converted to a rectangular alternating waveform by the full bridge invertor circuit 104 to which the output of the step-down chopper circuit 116 is input, whereby the metal halide lamp 101 maintains the lighting with a rectangular alternating waveform.
  • the frequency of the alternating current converted by the full bridge invertor circuit 104 is generally set to several hundreds Hz in order to avoid the problems such as fluctuations and discontinuance of the discharge arc, or explosion of the metal halide lamp 101 resulting from the acoustic resonance phenomenon peculiar to the HID lamp, and the conventional discharge lamp-lighting apparatus shown in Fig. 19 is set to 400 Hz.
  • Fig. 21a shows the structure that the metal halide lamp 101 is seen from the side when the metal halide lamp 101 is horizontally lighted and the discharge arc.
  • 122 and 123 represent electrodes
  • 124 represents a silica glass constituting the metal halide lamp 101
  • 125 represents a discharge arc.
  • Fig. 21b is a view showing the flow of gas due to the convection of the section orthogonal to the electrode axis including the center between electrodes of the metal halide lamp 101, and 126 represents a silica glass and 127 represents a discharge arc, and the gas flow due to the convection is shown by an arrow.
  • the discharge arc 127 is located in the upper portion than the center of the circular section orthogonal to the electrode axis, because of the gas flow due to the convection. Therefore, the discharge arc 125 bends upward as shown in Fig. 21a.
  • the metal halide lamp which attracts attention as a light source for picturing devices and a light source for head lights for vehicles has been provided with a short arc, thereby the mercury pressure at the time of lighting has to be increased. The increase of the mercury pressure further increases the convection and the bending of the discharge arc.
  • the distance between the silica glass in the upper portion of the discharge space and the discharge arc becomes small to make the temperature rise of the silica glass large, and the decrease of luminous flux due to the deterioration of the silica glass in the life span, that is, the devitrification, and the decrease of beam-condensing efficiency at the time of being combined with a reflector become large.
  • deformation swelling
  • the luminous efficacy is changed.
  • Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 5-57693 USP 4983889
  • Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 5-57693 there is taught a presence of a narrow frequency range which excites acoustic resonance vibration in the filler of the discharge lamp detected by experiments in the range of from about 20 kHz to about 100 kHz to decrease the influence of the convection and to prevent the bending in the upper direction of the discharge arc and makes the discharge arc roughly straight.
  • the discharge lamp when the discharge lamp is lighted with a frequency which excites the acoustic resonance vibration at the time of rated lighting, the discharge arc moves/bends or causes discontinuance for several tens seconds at the beginning of lighting, thereby stably straight discharge arc cannot be obtained.
  • Fig. 22 is a view showing the time change of the lamp current from the time when the discharge lamp is lighted with the lighting method described above (Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei-9835).
  • the lamp current is such a current that alternating-current component 129 of a frequency in which the influence of the convection of the filler of discharge lamp is reduced with the acoustic resonance and the discharge arc is made straight is superposed to the direct current 128.
  • high level direct current 128 is let flow, and the level of the direct current decreases with the lapse of time.
  • the modulation depth (the one which is obtained by subtracting the minimum current from the maximum current, and thereafter being divided by twice of the average current) is small immediately after the discharge is started, and increases with the lapse of the lighting time.
  • the rate of the alternating-current component 129 which makes the discharge arc unstable immediately after the lighting of the discharge lamp is made minimum, and stable discharge arc is formed with the direct current. Thereafter, the modulation depth becomes large with the lapse of time, and the discharge arc is made straight by the acoustic resonance vibration.
  • the lamp current waveform described above it is aimed to obtain stable discharge arc from immediately after the lighting to the rated lighting.
  • the direct current further increases the bending of the discharge arc. Therefore, at the time immediately after the discharge lamp is lighted, the discharge arc bends, and comes near to the straight discharge arc gradually, since the modulation depth of the alternating-current component which excites the acoustic resonance becomes large with the lapse of time. Namely, it has a defect in that the shape of discharge arc changes. Particularly in recent years, it has been progressed to make the arc short in the light source for picturing devices and the light source for head lights for vehicles, and there is a case that the mercury pressure at the time of lighting is higher, and xenon is included at high pressure in order to supplement the light output at the time immediately after the lighting. The increase of the mercury pressure and the existence of high-pressure xenon further increase the convection, and make the bending of the discharge arc large right after the lighting, whereby the shape change of the discharge arc becomes larger.
  • the shape of the discharge arc changes, there are caused such problems as described below.
  • the shape of the discharge arc is linear on the optical axis of the reflector from the view point that it makes the beam-condensing efficiency of the reflector better.
  • the beam-condensing efficiency at the initial stage of lighting when the shape of the discharge arc changes is decreased, as well as the light-arrangement characteristic to the irradiated plane changes.
  • it has a problem to give bad influences on the life of lamp and the light-emitting efficiency at the initial stage of lighting that there is a period for the discharge arc to be curved.
  • head lights for vehicles require a switching function of the passing beam and the travelling beam, and the two light-arranging patterns of the passing beam and the travelling beam are generally changed by selectively switching over the two light-emitting portions.
  • the light-emitting portion of the discharge lamp is only one, two discharge lamp-lighting apparatus (lighting apparatus for the passing beam and lighting apparatus for the travelling beam) are necessary to form the two light-arranging patterns, thus there is a problem that the head lights for vehicles become large.
  • the present invention is to solve the conventional problems described above, and the object thereof is to make the frequency range clear which can make the discharge arc always straight, if it is the same type of the discharge lamp, and to provide a discharge lamp-lighting apparatus which can be constituted by a lighting circuit with a cheap and simple structure.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a discharge lamp-lighting apparatus which can form and maintain the straight discharge arc during the whole lighting period of the discharge lamp (from immediately after lighting to rated lighting).
  • the discharge lamp-lighting apparatus of the present invention has a discharge lamp provided with a glass envelope defining the discharge space in which at least metal halide or mercury is sealed therein as a filler, and a lighting circuit which supplies a predetermined lighting waveform to said discharge lamp to light the discharge lamp, and selects said lighting waveform to be the one having a frequency component of the lowest acoustic resonance frequency determined by at least the sound velocity in the discharge space medium of said discharge lamp and the length of section orthogonal to the electrode axis of said discharge lamp to make the discharge arc roughly straight.
  • the present invention is further characterized in that the section orthogonal to the electrode axis of the discharge lamp includes the center between electrodes.
  • the present invention is further characterized in that the section including the electrode axis in the discharge space of the discharge lamp is in a shape having a flat portion in the vicinity of the central portion between electrodes, and the section orthogonal to the electrode axis of said discharge lamp has a roughly circular shape.
  • the lighting circuit includes a control means to detect the lamp characteristics of the discharge lamp to match the lighting frequency with the acoustic resonance frequency.
  • control means has a means to detect the lamp voltage as the lamp characteristic of the discharge lamp, and the lighting frequency in which the lamp voltage becomes lowest is the acoustic resonance frequency.
  • the discharge lamp-lighting apparatus of the present invention includes a discharge lamp, and a lighting circuit having a means to select the lighting waveform to be supplied to the discharge lamp to be the one which has a frequency component of the acoustic resonance frequency which is determined by the sound velocity in the discharge space medium and the length of section orthogonal to the electrode axis of said discharge lamp and excites a mode in which the discharge arc is made roughly straight, and has a period when the acoustic resonance frequency drops before it reaches the rated lighting after lighting of the discharge lamp.
  • the discharge lamp-lighting apparatus of the present invention has a structure of a discharge lamp and a lighting circuit having a means to select the lighting waveform to be supplied to the discharge lamp to be the one which has a frequency component of the acoustic resonance frequency which is determined by the sound velocity in the discharge space medium and the length of section orthogonal to the electrode axis of said discharge lamp and excites a mode to make the discharge arc straight, and a means to select said lighting waveform to be the one which amplifies the amplitude of the compressional wave emitted from the discharge arc during a period of low vapor pressure of the filler of the discharge lamp.
  • the discharge lamp-lighting apparatus includes a means to supply the lamp current or lamp electric power higher than the rated value during the initial period of lighting when the lighting circuit warms the discharge lamp after lighting the discharge lamp and reduce it to the rated value, and has a structure so as to speed up the rise of the light output.
  • the lighting circuit includes a lamp characteristic-detecting means which detects the lamp characteristic in order to change at least one means among a means to select a lighting waveform having the frequency component of the acoustic resonance frequency, a means to select a lighting waveform to amplify the amplitude of the compressional wave emitted from the discharge arc, and a means to supply the lamp current or lamp electric power higher than the rated value and reduce it to the rated value, according to the change of the lamp characteristic of the discharge lamp, and it is to detect the lamp voltage, the lamp impedance, the light output, the temperature of the light-emitting tube, or the elapsed time after lighting.
  • the lighting circuit includes a direct-current power supply B which outputs the direct current superposed with a ripple waveform having the frequency component of the acoustic resonance frequency which excites a mode to make the discharge arc straight, and the lighting waveform having the ripple waveform is supplied to the discharge lamp.
  • an invertor circuit B is included therein which converts the output of the direct-current power supply B to the alternating current.
  • the direct-current power supply B has at least one switching element which operates ON/OFF, and has such a structure that the ON/OFF frequency of the switching element is changed to change the frequency of the ripple waveform to be supplied to the discharge lamp, and the ratio of the ON period is changed to change the current or the power supplied to the discharge lamp.
  • the discharge lamp-lighting apparatus includes a discharge lamp, a lighting circuit which supplies a predetermined lighting waveform to light the discharge lamp and a light control means which irradiates the light emitted from the discharge lamp in the predetermined direction, the lighting waveform having the frequency component of the acoustic resonance frequency which excites a mode to make the discharge arc straight, and is able to form at least two luminous intensity distribution patterns by changing the rate of the frequency component of the acoustic resonance frequency to change the shape of the discharge arc.
  • the shape of the discharge arc of the discharge lamp is roughly straight at the time of the beam which has a high usage beam pattern.
  • the present invention when a waveform is supplied in which the instantaneous value changes temporally with a frequency f shown by the acoustic resonance frequency, particularly by the general formula (Equation 1), to the discharge lamp, the present invention can stably light with high frequency without causing any fluctuations and discontinuance of the discharge arc at the time of rated lighting of various discharge lamps of the same type, and can make the discharge arc of the discharge lamp straight.
  • the reason why the discharge lamp-lighting apparatus of the present invention can light stably without causing any fluctuations and discontinuance of the discharge arc, and the shape of the discharge arc is made straight can be inferred from the compressional wave emitted form the discharge arc.
  • This periodical change of the gas pressure becomes the compressional wave to be emitted from the discharge arc in the whole peripheral direction.
  • the compressional wave emitted from the discharge arc in the whole peripheral direction progresses in the direction of the tube wall (progressive wave) and is reflected by the tube wall (reflected wave). If there is a difference in the displacement of these two compressional waves (progressive wave and reflected wave), the discharge arc should move to the position where the displacement of the two compressional waves becomes small.
  • the waveform of the acoustic resonance frequency which is high frequency, particularly the waveform of the frequency f shown by the general formula (Equation 1) is supplied to the discharge lamp, at a position where the discharge arc has an equal distance against the tube wall in the section including the length of the section orthogonal to the electrode axis of the discharge lamp (for example, the center of a circle, when the sectional shape including the length of the section orthogonal to the electrode axis of the discharge lamp is circular), the displacement of the progressive wave and the reflected wave can be controlled always in the same level, and the discharge lamp can be stably lighted without causing movement of the discharge arc, as a result, the shape of the discharge arc is made straight.
  • two compressional waves interfere to cause a stationary wave.
  • the conditions of the frequency to cause the stationary wave exist innumerably, but when only one node of the stationary wave (the point where the displacements of the progressive wave and the reflected wave become always the same level) exists, the discharge arc becomes stable. In the frequency where a plurality of nodes are present, the discharge arc is not stable.
  • the discharge arc is made stable and straight without causing fluctuations and discontinuance at the time of rated lighting of the discharge lamp, and without curving even if it is horizontally lighted, whereby the distance between the silica glass in the upper portion of the discharge space and the discharge arc becomes large, and the local temperature rise of the silica glass becomes small. Furthermore, on the contrary, the temperature of the coolest point in the lower portion of the discharge space rises.
  • the shape of the discharge arc is continuously changeable at least from the straight shape to the shape curved by the convection.
  • a plurality of luminous intensity distribution patterns can be formed by changing the lighting waveform so as to change the amplitude of the compressional wave.
  • the discharge lamp is used as a light source of head lights for vehicles, if the passing beam is formed by the first luminous intensity distribution pattern and the travelling beam is formed by the second luminous intensity distribution pattern, the passing beam and the travelling beam can be switched over by one discharge lamp.
  • Fig. 1 is a view showing the characteristic comparison result when a metal halide lamp A is lighted by a conventional discharge lamp-lighting apparatus and by a discharge lamp-lighting apparatus of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a view showing the characteristic comparison result when a metal halide lamp B is lighted by a conventional discharge lamp-lighting apparatus and by a discharge lamp-lighting apparatus of the present invention.
  • Fig. 3 is a view showing the frequency range where the discharge arc is made straight at the time of rated lighting when a sine wave current waveform is supplied to the metal halide lamp A.
  • Fig. 4 is a view showing the relation between the rate of 23 kHz component of the waveform supplied to the metal halide lamp B and the size of bending of the discharge arc.
  • Fig. 5 is a view showing the rate of change of the sound velocity in the discharge space medium against the change of the lamp voltage of the metal halide lamp A.
  • Fig. 6 is a view showing the result that the change of the shape of the discharge arc at the time of lighting the metal halide lamp A with the sine wave current waveform is measured and evaluated.
  • Fig. 7 is a structural view of the discharge lamp-lighting apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 8 is a view of the lamp current waveform of the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 9 is a structural view of the discharge lamp-lighting apparatus of the second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 10 is a structural view of the discharge lamp-lighting apparatus of the third embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 11 is a block diagram of the discharge lamp-lighting apparatus of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 12 (a) is a view showing the rate of change of the acoustic resonance frequency against the change of the lamp impedance from lighting of the metal halide lamp A to the rated lighting.
  • Fig. 12 (b) is a view showing the change of the lamp current effective value against the change of the lamp impedance from lighting of the metal halide lamp A to the rated lighting.
  • Fig. 13 is a structural view of the discharge lamp-lighting apparatus of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 14 (a) is a view of output waveform of the step-down chopper circuit 74.
  • Fig. 14 (b) is a view of output waveform of the full bridge invertor circuit 64.
  • Fig. 15 is a structural view of the head lights for vehicles in the sixth embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 16 (a) is a view showing the luminous intensity distribution direction at the time of forming the travelling beam of said embodiment.
  • Fig. 16 (b) is a view showing the luminous intensity distribution direction at the time of forming the passing beam of said embodiment.
  • Fig. 17 (a) is a view showing the luminous intensity distribution direction at the time of forming the travelling beam of said embodiment.
  • Fig. 17 (b) is a view showing the luminous intensity distribution direction at the time of forming the passing beam of said embodiment.
  • Fig. 18 (a) is a view showing the luminous intensity distribution pattern of the passing beam.
  • Fig. 18 (b) is a view showing the luminous intensity distribution pattern of the travelling beam.
  • Fig. 19 is a structural view of the discharge lamp-lighting apparatus of the conventional embodiment.
  • Fig. 20 (a) is a view of the output voltage waveform of the step-down chopper circuit 116.
  • Fig. 20 (b) is a view of the output voltage waveform of the full bridge invertor circuit 104.
  • Fig. 21 (a) is a shape view of the discharge arc at the time of lighting the metal halide lamp 101 with the conventional discharge lamp-lighting apparatus.
  • Fig. 21 (b) is a view showing the position of the discharge arc in the section orthogonal to the electrode axis including the center between electrodes and the gas flow by the convection at the time of lighting the metal halide lamp 101 with the conventional discharge lamp-lighting apparatus.
  • Fig. 22 is a view showing the time change of the lamp current in a lighting system of the conventional discharge lamp.
  • Metal halide lamp A is a lamp having a section including the electrode axis being in an ellipsoidal shape having a flat portion in the vicinity of the central portion between electrodes, and a section orthogonal to the electrode axis having roughly circular discharge space.
  • metal halide lamps B and C are lamps having a section including the electrode axis being roughly oval (metal halide lamp has an oval shape close to circular shape), and a section orthogonal to the electrode axis having roughly circular discharge space, respectively.
  • 1 represents a silica glass forming the discharge space of the metal halide lamp A
  • 2 and 3 represent electrodes
  • the discharge arc is generated between electrodes 2 and 3.
  • 4 represents a silica glass forming the discharge space of the metal halide lamp B
  • 5 and 6 represent electrodes
  • the discharge arc is generated between electrodes 5 and 6.
  • 7 represents a silica glass forming the discharge space of the metal halide lamp C
  • 8 and 9 represent electrodes, and the discharge arc is generated between electrodes 8 and 9.
  • metal halide lamps A, B and C have the same sound velocity V in the discharge space medium, and different length L of the section orthogonal to the electrode axis including the center between electrodes (different shapes of the discharge space).
  • the metal halide lamp A When the metal halide lamp A is lighted with the sine wave current waveform of the lighting frequency of 76.7 kHz, it was lighted stably in a straight form of the discharge arc without causing any fluctuations and discontinuance of the discharge arc at the time of rated lighting, and with almost no bending of the discharge arc.
  • the discharge arc is made straight stably in the frequency range of from 74.6 kHz to 77.7 kHz.
  • the metal halide lamp B When the metal halide lamp B is lighted with the sine wave current waveform or the triangular wave current waveform of the lighting frequency of 23.0 kHz, it was lighted stably in a straight form of the discharge arc without causing any fluctuations and discontinuance of the discharge arc at the time of rated lighting, and with almost no bending of the discharge arc.
  • the discharge arc is made straight stably in the frequency range of from 22.4 kHz to 23.7 kHz.
  • the sections orthogonal to the electrode axis of metal halide lamps A, B and C are circular, and when each lamp is lighted with the frequency f determined by the general formula (Equation 1), the compressional wave emitted in the whole peripheral direction from the discharge arc can control the displacement of the progressive wave and the reflected wave at the same level on the electrode axis which is the center of the circular section orthogonal to the electrode axis, whereby the discharge arc is made stable without being moved, and as a result, the discharge arc is located on the electrode axis at the center between electrodes.
  • the discharge arc is generally arranged on the optical axis of the reflector. Since the shape of the discharge arc becomes one line, the shape of the discharge arc can be made roughly symmetrical in the upper and the lower portions against the optical axis of the reflector, and the shapes of section of the discharge arc including the optical axis of the reflector can be made identical in the direction of the whole periphery surrounding the optical axis. Therefore, the result that the necessary luminous intensity distribution characteristic is studied in one section including the optical axis of the reflector can be applicable to other sections, which makes the design of the reflector very simple, and a reflector with a simple structure will do.
  • the highest temperature on the upper surface of the silica glass which is the portion where the temperature of the silica glass becomes the highest can be suppressed to 900°C or below, whereby the deterioration of the silica glass can be suppressed and the life characteristic resulting from the devitrification and the deformation of the lamp can be greatly improved.
  • the shape of the discharge arc is made straight, the light-emitting efficiency can be improved by about 10%.
  • the reason thereof is assumed to be that the coolest point temperature of the lamp is increased to rise the vapor pressure inside of the discharge space, whereby the light-emitting efficiency is improved, judging from the experiment results in which the lowest temperature on the lower surface of the silica glass is increased.
  • Fig. 3 is a view showing the experimental results that the frequency to make the discharge arc straight at the time of rated lighting when the sine wave current waveform is supplied to the metal halide lamp A was determined for 4 lamps.
  • the diagonal line portion is the range where the discharge arc is made straight.
  • ranges where the discharge arc is made straight exist in the range of from 50 kHz to 150 kHz, but the range in which all the discharge arcs of the four discharge lamps are made straight in the widest range is in the vicinity of the frequency f determined by the general formula (Equation 1).
  • the existence of the wide range and the existence of the common range make the design of the lighting circuit easy.
  • Fig. 4 is a result of an experiment which determines the relation of the rate of 23 kHz component and the size of bending of the discharge arc when a waveform having a frequency component of 23 kHz determined by the general formula (Equation 1) and other frequency component are supplied to the metal halide lamp B in a waveform having more than one frequency component.
  • the rate of 23 kHz component determined by the general formula (Equation 1) from Fig. 4 the bending of the discharge arc becomes small. Namely, as the rate of 23 kHz component increases, the shape of the discharge arc is made close to straight. Furthermore, it is found that if 23 kHz component is included in the rate of 30% or more, the bending of the discharge arc can be greatly reduced.
  • the waveform supplied to the discharge lamp is a waveform including the frequency component determined by the general formula (Equation 1), for example, not only a sine wave but also a triangular wave, sawtooth wave, stepped wave and the like can make the shape of the discharge arc roughly straight. Furthermore, by changing the rate of the frequency component determined by the general formula (Equation 1), it is possible to continuously change the shape of the discharge arc from a straight form to a form curved by the convection.
  • Fig. 5 is a view showing the rate of change of the sound velocity in the discharge space medium against the change of the lamp voltage of the metal halide lamp A to be experimented and studied (the sound velocity at the time of rated lighting is assumed to be 1).
  • the lamp voltage right after lighting is small and rises with the lapse of time.
  • the lamp voltage at the time of rated lighting is 85V.
  • the sound velocity and the acoustic resonance frequency are in the proportional relation, as described in the Paper of J. Appl. Phys 49 (5), May 1978, pp. 2680 - 2683. Therefore, the acoustic resonance frequency which excites the mode to make the discharge arc straight changes in the characteristic shown in Fig. 5.
  • the acoustic resonance frequency has a characteristic that it drops before reaching the rated lighting after being lighted.
  • the frequency that the discharge arc becomes straight at the time of rated lighting is 76.7 kHz.
  • Fig. 6 shows the results that the change of the shape of discharge arc is measured and evaluated, when the metal halide lamp A is lighted with a sine wave current waveform. It shows the results when the metal halide lamp A is lighted with a certain lighting frequency (76.7 kHz) and with a certain lamp current (rated lamp current 0.4 A)(Fig. 6a), when it is lighted with a certain lamp current (rated lamp current 0.4 A) while changing the frequency with the characteristic shown in Fig. 5 (Fig.
  • the phenomenon to make the discharge arc straight occurs when the force to make the discharge arc straight by the excitation of the acoustic resonance is larger than the buoyancy to bend the discharge arc which is generated by the convection. In order to avoid moves and bendings of the discharge arc at the initial stage of lighting and to form stable and straight discharge arc, it is firstly effective to lower the lighting frequency till reaching the rated lighting after lighting.
  • 11 represents a metal halide lamp A as the discharge lamp
  • the metal halide lamp A 11 is a discharge lamp provided with a glass envelope defining the discharge space in which mercury and sodium iodine and scandium iodine which are metal halide are sealed therein as fillers, and it is horizontally lighted.
  • 12 represents a lighting circuit for starting and lighting the metal halide lamp A 11.
  • the lighting circuit 12 is composed of a direct-current power supply 15 composed of a commercial-use alternating-current power supply 13 and an alternating current-direct current converting circuit 14 for converting the output of the alternating-current power supply 13 to the direct current, a series invertor circuit 20 which is an invertor circuit composed of transistors 16 and 17, a condenser 18 and a drive circuit 19 for controlling ON/OFF of transistors 16 and 17, and converting the output of the direct-current power supply 15 to the alternating current, a choke coil 21 which is a reactor to limit the lamp current of the metal halide lamp A 11 to the rated current, and a starting means 22 to generate high voltage pulse for starting the metal halide lamp A 11.
  • a direct-current power supply 15 composed of a commercial-use alternating-current power supply 13 and an alternating current-direct current converting circuit 14 for converting the output of the alternating-current power supply 13 to the direct current
  • a series invertor circuit 20 which is an invertor circuit composed of transistors 16 and 17,
  • the starting means 22 has a structure that generation of the high voltage pulse is stopped when the metal halide lamp A 11 is lighted. Furthermore, the drive circuit 19 has a structure that ON/OFF of the transistors 16 and 17 are controlled so that the frequency of the alternating current output from the series invertor circuit 20 becomes 76.7 kHz which is determined by the general formula (Equation 1), which is the acoustic resonance frequency.
  • the series invertor circuit 20 outputs the alternating current of 76.7 kHz by controlling ON/OFF of transistors 16 and 17 with the output signal of the drive circuit 19.
  • the high voltage pulse is applied to the metal halide lamp A 11 from the staring means 22, and when the metal halide lamp A 11 is lighted, the metal halide lamp A 11 keeps lighting by using a certain alternating-current output of 76.7 kHz in the series invertor circuit 20 as a power source, the current being restricted by the choke coil 21.
  • FIG. 8 shows the lamp current waveform when the metal halide lamp A 11 is lighted.
  • a current waveform close to the triangle wave waveform of 76.7 kHz is supplied to the metal halide lamp A 11.
  • the shape of the discharge arc can be made roughly straight during the lighting period excluding the initial stage of lighting with the structure of the first embodiment, the temperature of the upper portion of the silica glass drops, and thus deterioration, that is, devitrification and deformation (swelling) of the silica glass due to softening can be prevented, whereby the life of the metal halide lamp A 11 can be greatly improved.
  • the light-emitting efficiency can be also increased.
  • the design of the reflector is made very simple, and a reflector having a simple structure will do.
  • the current-limiting function of the metal halide lamp A 11 can be constituted with a very small choke coil 21, whereby the structure of the lighting circuit is made simple to make the lighting circuit down-sized, light-weighted and with low cost.
  • the metal halide lamp 11 the direct-current power supply composed of a commercial-use alternating-current power supply 13 and an alternating current-direct current converting circuit 14 for converting the output of the alternating-current power supply 13 to the direct current
  • the choke coil 21 and the staring means 22 are similar to those of the first embodiment.
  • the different point from the first embodiment is the structure of the series invertor circuit 24 which is an invertor circuit of a part of the lighting circuit 23, and the series invertor circuit 24 is composed of transistors 25 and 26, a condenser 27, a control circuit 28 for controlling ON/OFF of transistors 25 and 26, and a timer circuit 29 which outputs a signal according to the time since the lighting circuit 23 starts its operation (which is substantially equal to the time since the metal halide lamp A 11 is lighted).
  • the drive circuit 28 and the timer circuit 29 are so constituted that the frequency for controlling ON/OFF of transistors 25 and 26 can be changed by the drive circuit 28 according to the output signal of the timer circuit 29.
  • ON/OFF of the transistors 25 and 26 are controlled so that the alternating-current output of the frequency lower than 76.7 kHz is output from the series invertor circuit 24, but the lighting frequency is gradually increased with the lapse of time, and at the time of rated lighting of the metal halide lamp A 11, ON/OFF of the transistors 25 and 26 are controlled so that the alternating-current lighting frequency output from the series invertor circuit 24 becomes 76.7 kHz which is the acoustic resonance frequency, that is, the one determined by the general formula (Equation 1).
  • the choke coil 21 is made to have such inductance that it becomes the rated lamp current at the time of rated lighting of 76.7 kHz of the metal halide lamp A 11.
  • high voltage pulse is applied to the metal halide lamp A 11 from the starting means 22 until the metal halide lamp A 11 is lighted, and when the metal halide lamp A 11 is lighted, the metal halide lamp A 11 keeps lighting by using the alternating-current output of the series invertor circuit 24 as a power source, the current being restricted by the choke coil 21.
  • the frequency becomes lower than 76.7 kHz, therefore the impedance of the choke coil 21 becomes small, and the current higher than the rated lamp current is supplied to the metal halide lamp A 11, and the lighting frequency rises gradually up to 76.7 kHz with the lapse of time of lighting, whereby the lamp current decreases to the rated lamp current with a predetermined gradient.
  • the alternating-current frequency output from the series invertor circuit 24 becomes 76.7 kHz which is the acoustic resonance frequency, determined by the general formula (Equation 1), at the time of the rated lighting of the metal halide lamp A 11.
  • the current larger than the rated lamp current is made to flow at the initial stage of lighting of the metal halide lamp A 11, thereby it is possible to rise rapidly the light output of the metal halide lamp A 11 up to the rated value. Furthermore, at the time of rated lighting, the shape of the discharge arc is made straight, therefore the similar effects can be obtained as those of the first embodiment. Moreover, since the time reaching the rated lighting is made short, the time when the discharge arc moves at the initial stage of lighting can be made short, whereby the discharge arc is rapidly made straight.
  • 31 represents a metal halide lamp A as the discharge lamp, and the metal halide lamp A is horizontally lighted.
  • 32 represents a lighting circuit for starting and lighting the metal halide lamp A 31, and is composed of a direct-current power supply A 40 which can change the output voltage, a series invertor circuit 44 which is an invertor circuit A for converting the output of the direct-current power supply A 40 to the alternating current of the acoustic resonance frequency, a choke coil 45 which is a reactor restricting the lamp current of the metal halide lamp A 31, a starting means 46 for generating the high voltage pulse for starting the metal halide lamp A 31, a lamp current detecting circuit 50 for detecting the lamp current value supplied to the metal halide lamp A 31, and a lamp power detecting circuit 51 for detecting the lamp power value supplied to the metal halide lamp A 31.
  • the direct-current power supply A 40 is composed of a battery 33 and a step-down chopper circuit 39 composed of a transistor 34 which inputs the output of the battery 33 and can change the output voltage for controlling the lamp power supplied to the metal halide lamp A 31 to a predetermined value, a diode 35, a choke coil 36, a condenser 37, and a control circuit 38 for outputting the control signal for controlling ON/OFF of the transistor 34.
  • the series invertor circuit 34 is composed of a control means 49 which is composed of a lamp voltage detecting circuit 47 for detecting the lamp voltage which is the lamp characteristics of the metal halide lamp A 31 and a drive circuit 48 which has such a structure to control the lighting frequency so that the lamp voltage becomes lowest, transistors 41 and 42 whose ON/OFF is controlled by the output signal of the drive circuit 48, and a condenser 43, and inputs the output of the direct-current power supply A 40 to convert it to the alternating current of the frequency in which the lamp voltage becomes lowest and outputs it.
  • the lamp power detecting circuit 51 has such a structure that it inputs a signal proportional to the lamp voltage which is the output signal of the lamp voltage detecting circuit 47 and a signal proportional to the lamp current which is the output signal of the lamp current detecting circuit 50, and calculates the lamp power, and the control circuit 38 inputs the output signal of the lamp power detecting circuit 51 to control ON/OFF of the transistor 34.
  • the starting means 45 has such a structure that when the metal halide lamp A 31 is lighted, it stops the generation of the high voltage pulse.
  • the choke coil 45 has such inductance as to become the rated lamp current when the metal halide lamp A 31 is subjected to the rated lighting.
  • the starting means 46 stops the operation.
  • the current waveform close to the triangular wave similar to that of the first embodiment is supplied from the series invertor circuit 44 to the metal halide lamp A 31 to maintain the lighting.
  • the lighting frequency of the series invertor circuit 44 is controlled so that the lamp voltage becomes lowest. It is when the discharge length becomes shortest that the lamp voltage becomes lowest, and when the shape of the discharge arc becomes straight, the lamp voltage becomes lowest.
  • the lighting frequency is controlled so that the lamp voltage becomes lowest, the discharge lamp can be always lighted with the lighting frequency determined by the general formula (Equation 1) which is the acoustic resonance frequency.
  • the sound velocity V changes. Namely, the lamp current can be changed to dim, and during the initial stage of lighting until the average temperature in the discharge space reaches the temperature at the time of rated lighting, the average sound velocity in the discharge space differs from the sound velocity at the time of the rated lighting. Also, it is clear that when the filled substance and the filled amount thereof in the metal halide lamp A 31 is changed, the sound velocity V in the discharge space changes, and the sound velocity in the discharge space has a peculiar value determined by the lamp and the lighting conditions. Furthermore, when scattering is caused in the individual lamp, the frequency determined by the general formula (Equation 1) is changed, therefore the output frequency of the series invertor circuit 44 is changed by the control means 49.
  • the impedance of the choke coil 45 is changed to change the lamp voltage supplied to the metal halide lamp A 31.
  • the lamp power can be controlled to a predetermined value, even if scattering and changes are caused in the sound velocity in the discharge space medium and the length of the section orthogonal to the electrode axis due to the production scattering and the age softening in the same type of lamps, and scattering and changes are caused in the lighting frequency determined by the general formula (Equation 1).
  • Fig. 11 is a block diagram showing the structure of the fourth embodiment.
  • 52 represents the metal halide lamp A described above.
  • 53 is a lighting circuit which supplies a predetermined waveform to the metal halide lamp A 52 to light it.
  • the lighting circuit 53 is composed of a starting means which applies sufficient voltage to the metal halide lamp A 52 to start the discharge of the metal halide lamp A 52, a lamp characteristics detecting means 55 for detecting the lamp impedance which is the lamp characteristics of the metal halide lamp A 52, a frequency-variable means 56 to determine the frequency of the lamp current, which is a means to select a lighting waveform having the frequency component of the acoustic resonance frequency which excites the mode to make the discharge arc straight, a lamp current value-variable means 57 to determine the effective value of the lamp current, which is a means to select a lighting waveform to amplify the amplitude of the compressional wave emitted from the discharge arc, a lighting waveform-supplying means 58 for supplying the lamp current waveform having the frequency and effective value determined by the frequency-variable means 56 and the lamp current value-variable means 57, respectively, to the metal halide lamp A 52, and a power supply 59 which supplies the power to the lighting waveform-
  • the frequency-variable means 56 and the lamp current value-variable means 57 have such a structure that the lamp current waveform is determined to have the predetermined frequency and the effective value according to the change of the lamp impedance detected by the lamp characteristics detecting means 55.
  • the lamp current waveform supplied to the metal halide lamp A 52 supplies the alternating-current waveform, for example, a sine wave or a triangular wave, in which the instantaneous value always changes so that the compressional wave is generated from the discharge arc.
  • Figs. 12a and 12b show the result of the rate of change of the acoustic resonance frequency to make the discharge arc straight against the change of the lamp impedance before the rated lighting after the metal halide lamp A 52 is lighted (Fig.
  • the lamp impedance immediately after lighting is small and rises with the lapse of time of lighting.
  • the lamp impedance at the time of the rated lighting is 200 ⁇ .
  • the acoustic resonance frequency drops with a predetermined gradient till it reaches the rated lighting after the metal halide lamp A 52 is lighted.
  • the acoustic resonance frequency to make the discharge arc straight at the time of rated lighting is about 76.7 kHz as in the above-mentioned embodiment.
  • the frequency-variable means 56 changes the lighting frequency according to the change of the lamp impedance detected by the lamp characteristics detecting means 55 so as to have the relation shown in Fig. 12a.
  • the lamp current value-variable means 57 changes the effective value of the lamp current according to the change of the lamp impedance detected by the lamp characteristics detecting means 55 so as to have the relation shown in Fig. 12b.
  • the lamp impedance rises gradually from the low level to 200n, which is the lamp impedance at the time of rated lighting.
  • the lamp current waveform according to the lamp impedance detected by the lamp characteristics detecting means 55 is supplied to the metal halide lamp A 52.
  • the supplied lamp current waveform has such a structure that the lighting frequency drops till it reaches the rated lighting after the metal halide lamp is lighted, in the same way as the changes of the acoustic resonance frequency to make the discharge arc straight, and the current larger than the rated lamp current is supplied at the initial stage of lighting when the vapor pressure of the filler in the discharge space is low, to amplify the amplitude of the compressional wave emitted from the discharge arc, whereby the excitation level of the acoustic resonance is made large.
  • the metal halide lamp A 52 can form and maintain the straight discharge arc during the whole lighting period (from immediately after lighting to the rated lighting).
  • the long life of the discharge lamp can be obtained, as well as the light-emitting efficiency at the initial stage of lighting is improved, and when the discharge lamp is used in combination with the reflector, the luminous intensity distribution characteristics can be made roughly constant during the whole lighting period.
  • the current of 6 to 7 times as large as the rated lamp current is supplied right after lighting to change the lamp current effective value with the characteristics shown in Fig. 12b, in which the lamp current is continuously reduced to the rated impedance.
  • the time to reach the rated lighting after being lighted is about 30 seconds, and the light output reaches the rated value about 5 seconds after being lighted.
  • 61 represents a metal halide lamp A as the discharge lamp
  • 62 represents a lighting circuit for supplying the predetermined lighting waveform to the metal halide lamp A 61 to light it.
  • the lighting circuit 62 is composed of a direct-current power supply B 63 which outputs the direct current superposed with a ripple waveform having the frequency component of the acoustic resonance frequency which excites the mode to make the discharge arc straight, a full bridge invertor circuit 64 which is an invertor circuit B to convert the output of the direct-current power supply B 63 to the alternating current, a starting means 65 and a lamp impedance detecting circuit 66 which is a lamp characteristics detecting means to detect the lamp impedance which is the lamp characteristics of the metal halide lamp A 61.
  • the direct-current power supply B 63 is composed of a commercial-use alternating-current power supply 67, a rectifying and smoothing circuit 68 for rectifying and smoothing the output of the alternating-current power supply 67 and converting it to the direct current, and a step-down chopper circuit 74 for converting the output of the rectifying and smoothing circuit 68 to the direct current superposed with a ripple waveform having the frequency component of the acoustic resonance frequency.
  • the step-down chopper circuit 74 is composed of a transistor 69 which is a switching element, a diode 70, a choke coil 71, a condenser 72, and a control circuit 73 for controlling ON/OFF of the transistor 69.
  • the full bridge invertor circuit 64 is composed of transistors 75, 76, 77 and 78, and a drive circuit 79, and by alternately generating the period when transistors 75 and 78 are turned ON and the period when transistors 76 and 77 are turned ON by the output signal of the drive circuit 79, the output of the step-down chopper circuit 74 is converted to the alternating current of 400 Hz and supplied to the metal halide lamp A 61.
  • the lamp impedance detecting circuit 66 is composed of resistors 80, 81 and 82, and a lamp impedance calculation circuit 83, wherein a signal proportional to the lamp voltage is detected by the resistors 80 and 81, and a signal proportional to the lamp current is detected by the resistor 82, and from these two signals, the lamp impedance is calculated by the lamp impedance calculation circuit 83. And according to the calculation result of the lamp impedance, the control circuit 73 outputs the signal to control ON/OFF of the transistor 69.
  • the choke coil 71 and the condenser 72 have a role of filter which smoothes the output of the step-down chopper circuit 74, however, in the present embodiment, smoothing is not performed completely, and the step-down chopper circuit 74 outputs the waveform in which the ripple waveform is superposed on the direct component, therefore the inductance of the choke coil 71 or the capacity of the condenser 72 is made small.
  • the output waveform of the step-down chopper circuit 74 becomes as shown in Fig. 14a, and the output waveform of the full bridge invertor circuit 64 becomes the one converted to the alternating current of 400 Hz, as shown in Fig. 14b.
  • the starting means 65 has a structure that high voltage pulse is applied in order to start the metal halide lamp A 61.
  • the output waveform of the step-down chopper circuit 74 is such that only the frequency of the ripple waveform is variable when the ON/OFF period of the transistor 69 is changed, and when the ratio of the ON period is changed, the level of the direct-current component becomes variable.
  • the lamp power is modulated with the frequency of twice as large as the alternating current, while in the case that the alternating current is superposed on the direct current, the power is modulated with the same frequency as the alternating current, therefore the frequency of the ripple waveform in the present invention is required to be twice as large as in the above-mentioned embodiment.
  • the frequency of the ripple waveform in which the discharge arc is made straight at the time of rated lighting of the metal halide lamp A 61 is about 153 kHz.
  • the ON/OFF period of the transistor 69 is set to be about 153 kHz at the time of rated lighting of the metal halide lamp A 61, and the ON/OFF period of the transistor 69 is changed so as to have the characteristics shown in Fig. 12a in response to the change of the lamp impedance. And at the same time, the ratio of the ON period of the transistor 69 is changed so that effective value of the lamp current becomes the characteristics shown in Fig. 12b in response to the change of the lamp impedance.
  • the lamp impedance detecting circuit 66 calculates the lamp impedance, and the cycle of the ON/OFF period and ON period of the transistor 69 is changed so as to be the characteristics shown in Figs. 12a and 12b, in response to the change of the lamp impedance to light the metal halide lamp A 61.
  • the values of the inductance of the choke coil 71 and the capacity of the condenser 72 are not changed during the whole lighting period, as the lamp impedance becomes small, the amplitude of the ripple waveform becomes large.
  • the inductance of the choke coil 71 and the capacity of the condenser 72 are set to the predetermined values so that the modulation depth in which the discharge arc is made straight at the time of rated lighting of the metal halide lamp A 61 can be secured.
  • the frequency of the ripple waveform which excites the mode to make the discharge arc straight is reduced, similarly as the change of the acoustic resonance frequency, till it reaches the rated lighting, and at the initial stage of lighting where the vapor pressure of the filler is low, the lamp current having large modulation depth of the ripple waveform is supplied to amplify the amplitude of the compressional wave.
  • the metal halide lamp A 61 can form and maintain the straight discharge arc during the whole lighting period (from right after lighting to rated lighting), whereby the similar effect as in the fourth embodiment can be realized.
  • the modulation depth can be freely set by the choke coil 71 and the condenser 72, irrespective of the size of the effective value of the lamp current. And even in the discharge lamp which cannot form the straight discharge arc at the time of rated lighting because the excitation level of the acoustic resonance is small against the buoyancy generated by the convection at the time of being lighted with a sine wave current waveform, the modulation depth can be made large to make the excitation level of the acoustic resonance large, whereby the straight discharge arc can be formed.
  • the effective value of the lamp current is not made large, only the modulation depth can be changed to be made large, therefore the damage of the discharge lamp becomes small and the life of the discharge lamp can be made long. Furthermore, by changing the rate of 153 kHz component, the bending of the discharge arc can be controlled.
  • the rate of 153 kHz component becomes large and the bending of the discharge arc is made smaller, therefore, for example, if an inductance-variable means is provided to the choke coil 71 or a capacity-variable means is provided to the condenser 72, the shape of the discharge arc can be changed, and when it is used in combination with a reflector, the luminous intensity distribution patterns of the light output can be changed.
  • FIG. 15 shows the structural view of the discharge lamp-lighting apparatus in the sixth embodiment of the present invention, wherein the discharge lamp-lighting apparatus of the present invention is used as head lights for vehicles.
  • 85 represents a metal halide lamp A as the discharge lamp
  • 84 represents a lighting circuit for starting and lighting the metal halide lamp A 85.
  • 86 represents a parabolic reflector which irradiates the light emitted from the metal halide lamp A 85 to the forward direction
  • 87 represents an outer lens to control the light arrangement
  • the parabolic reflector 86 and the outer lens 87 constitute the light control means which irradiates the light emitted from the metal halide lamp A 85 in the predetermined direction.
  • the lighting circuit 84 has a function which can switch the lamp current waveform supplied to the metal halide lamp A 85 to the sine wave of 76.7 kHz and the rectangular wave of 400 Hz. And at the time of 76.7 kHz, the shape of the discharge arc becomes roughly straight as described above, and at the time of the rectangular wave of 400 Hz, the discharge arc has a curved shape due to the influence of the convection.
  • Fig. 16a shows the case where the lamp current waveform is a sine wave of 76.7 kHz, wherein the discharge arc 88 is almost in the straight form
  • Fig. 16b shows the case where the lamp current waveform is a rectangular wave of 400 Hz, wherein the discharge arc 89 is in a curved form.
  • the direction of light irradiation is shown by arrows.
  • the metal halide lamp A 85 is arranged so that the central portion between electrodes of the metal halide lamp A 85 coincides with the focal point 90 of the parabolic reflector 86.
  • the focal point 90 of the parabolic reflector 86 becomes substantially the center of the discharge arc, and the light emitted from the discharge arc which is the light-emitting portion is reflected by the parabolic reflector 86 to become roughly parallel light with the optical axis, and is projected in a predetermined direction by the outer lens 87 to form the luminous intensity distribution pattern of the travelling beam, as shown in Fig. 18b.
  • the discharge arc is curved, and as shown in Fig. 16b, is located in the upper portion of the focal point 90 of the parabolic reflector 86, whereby the light reflected by the parabolic reflector 86 becomes the light directing toward downward with respect to the optical axis, and the light is projected by the outer lens 86 to form the luminous intensity distribution pattern of the passing beam, as shown in Fig. 18a.
  • Fig. 17a shows the case where the lamp current waveform is a rectangular wave of 400 Hz
  • Fig. 17b shows the case where the lamp current waveform is a sine wave of 76.7 kHz, and the direction of the light irradiation is shown by arrows.
  • the metal halide lamp A 85 is arranged so that the focal point 90 of the parabolic reflector 86 is located at the point where the discharge arc at the time of lighting with the rectangular wave of 400 Hz is present in the section orthogonal to the center between electrodes of the metal halide lamp A 85.
  • the focal point 90 of the parabolic reflector 86 becomes substantially the center of the discharge arc, as shown in Fig. 17a, and the light emitted from the discharge arc which is the light-emitting portion is reflected by the parabolic reflector 86 to become substantially parallel light with the optical axis, and is projected in a predetermined direction by the outer lens 93 to form the luminous intensity distribution pattern of the travelling beam, as shown in Fig. 18b.
  • the discharge arc is made straight, therefore the position of the discharge arc which is the light emitting portion comes to the lower portion of the focal point 90 of the parabolic reflector 86, whereby the light reflected by the parabolic reflector becomes the light directing toward upward as shown in Fig. 17b, and the light is inverted and projected by the outer lens 93 to form the luminous intensity distribution pattern of the passing beam, as shown in Fig. 18a.
  • the sixth embodiment by changing the lighting waveform, switching of the passing beam and the travelling beam is possible, and head lights for vehicles which can switch the passing beam and the travelling beam with one discharge lamp can be realized. Furthermore, if it is set so as to become the straight discharge arc when it is the beam frequently used, devitrification and deformation (swelling) of the discharge lamp which is the cause of deterioration of the luminous flux and the limit-emitting characteristics can be suppressed, and the long life of lamp can be realized.
  • the metal halide lamps A, B and C are horizontally lighted, but they may be lighted vertically, or lighted in the optional direction, and even if it is lighted in any direction, by lighting with the frequency which is the acoustic resonance frequency, and particularly the one determined by the general formula (Equation 1), when the discharge arc is in a position with equal distance to the tube wall in the section orthogonal to the electrode axis (for example, when the shape of section orthogonal to the electrode axis in the discharge space is circular, the center of the circle), the displacement of the progressive wave and the reflected wave can be controlled to the same level in the vicinity thereof including the discharge arc, whereby the discharge arc becomes stable without being moved and the metal halide lamp can be lighted stably without causing any fluctuation and discontinuance of the discharge arc.
  • the frequency which is the acoustic resonance frequency and particularly the one determined by the general formula (Equation 1)
  • the length of the section orthogonal to the electrode axis is made to be the diameter of the circular section orthogonal to the electrode axis including the center between electrodes of the discharge lamp, but if it is the diameter of the circular section orthogonal to the electrode axis not including the center between electrodes, the discharge arc comes to the center of the section orthogonal to the electrode axis, therefore the bending of the discharge arc can be made small, and the metal halide lamp can be stably lighted without causing any fluctuation and discontinuance of the discharge arc.
  • the discharge lamp having the discharge space having the section including the electrode axis in an ellipsoidal shape, or roughly oval shape is used, but it may be circular, or quadrilateral form such as rectangular and square. If it is circular, at the center of the section orthogonal to the electrode axis including the center between electrodes, the displacement of not only the compressional wave on the section orthogonal to the electrode axis, but also the compressional wave emitted to all directions (progressive wave) and all the compressional wave reflected by the tube wall and returned (reflected wave) can be controlled to the same level, therefore the force to fix the discharge arc in the center of the section orthogonal to the electrode axis becomes large, and the shape of the discharge arc can be made straight more stably.
  • the length of the section orthogonal to the electrode axis becomes the same length in all the sections between electrodes, therefore the discharge arc is located in the center of all the sections orthogonal to the electrode axis, whereby the shape of the discharge arc can be made straight more stably.
  • the waveform supplied to the discharge lamp may be any waveform so long as it has the frequency component of the acoustic resonance frequency, particularly the one determined by the general formula (Equation 1), for example, not only the sine wave, the triangular wave, but also sawtooth wave, stepped wave, exponential wave, and complex wave thereof, if they are waveforms including the frequency component of the acoustic resonance frequency, particularly the one determined by the general formula (Equation 1), the bending of the discharge arc can be made small and the shape of the discharge arc can be made straight, or a shape close to straight.
  • the general formula (Equation 1) for example, not only the sine wave, the triangular wave, but also sawtooth wave, stepped wave, exponential wave, and complex wave thereof, if they are waveforms including the frequency component of the acoustic resonance frequency, particularly the one determined by the general formula (Equation 1), the bending of the discharge arc can be made small and the shape of the discharge arc can be made straight, or a
  • the discharge lamp a metal halide lamp is used, but other HID lamp such as high-pressure mercury-vapor lamp and high-pressure sodium-vapor lamp may be used, and low-pressure discharge lamp such as fluorescent lamp and low-pressure sodium-vapor lamp may be also used so long as it is the one in which the compressional wave is generated in the discharge space.
  • the discharge lamp which is a short-arced and small-sized metal halide lamp in which the mercury pressure is increased and high-pressure xenon is present, wherein xenon gas having cold-temperature pressure of at least 3 atm. or higher, mercury and metal halide in an amount of from 0.02 mg to 0.5 mg are sealed as a filler within the glass envelope defining the discharge space of not more than 0.2 cm 3 and the discharge lamp has at least sodium and scandium as said metal.
  • the material forming the discharge space of the metal halide lamps A, B and C is silica glass, but it may be ceramic materials or soda glass. And whatever material forming the discharge space of the discharge lamp may be, when the discharge lamp is lighted with the lighting frequency of high frequency (acoustic resonance frequency), it can be lighted stably without causing any fluctuation and discontinuance of the discharge arc.
  • the direct-current power supply 15 has such a structure that the output of the commercial-use alternating current 13 is converted to the direct current by the alternating current-direct current converting circuit 14, it may have a structure that switching power supply is added to the commercial-use alternating-current power supply or the direct-current power supply or may be a battery.
  • the direct-current power supply 40 which can change the output voltage is composed of the battery 30 and the step-down chopper circuit 39, but other structure may be used, so long as it has a structure that the lamp power of the discharge lamp is detected and the output voltage can be changed so that the predetermined lamp power is supplied.
  • the series invertor circuits 20 and 24 may have other structures, so long as it can convert the direct current to the alternating-current waveform having at least the acoustic resonance frequency component, such as half bridge circuit, full bridge circuit, one-stone invertor circuit and the like.
  • the series invertor circuit 24 has such a structure that the timer circuit 29 detects the operation time of the lighting circuit in order to supply the current larger than the rated lamp current immediately after lighting of the discharge lamp, and reduce the lamp current with a predetermined gradient with the lapse of time of lighting, and the operational frequency of the drive circuit 28 is gradually increased from low frequency by the output to change the impedance of the choke coil 21 gradually from a small value to a large value, and the lamp current is reduced with a predetermined gradient with the lapse of time of lighting.
  • the lamp current can be changed, and even if the reactance is changed by providing a reactance-variable means in the choke coil 21, the lamp current can be changed.
  • the series invertor circuit 44 may have a structure that it has a control means to detect the lamp characteristics and match the lighting frequency with the acoustic resonance frequency, particularly the lighting frequency determined by the general formula (Equation 1), it may have other constituent such as a half bridge circuit, a full bridge circuit, or a one-stone invertor circuit.
  • the control means 49 detects the lamp voltage by utilizing the characteristic that when the shape of the discharge arc becomes straight, the length of discharge becomes shortest and the lamp voltage becomes lowest, to match it with the lighting frequency in which the lamp voltage becomes lowest, but since when the fluctuation of the discharge arc due to the acoustic resonance phenomenon is caused, the length of discharge is changed to cause a temporal change in the lamp voltage, it may have a structure that it is matched with the lighting frequency having no temporal change in the lamp voltage (for example, the lighting frequency in which the differential value of the lamp voltage becomes lowest).
  • the frequency can be controlled by detecting the temperature of the tube wall because the sound velocity in the discharge space medium is a function of the temperature, and by detecting the light output by utilizing the characteristics that the light output (luminous flux, spectral distribution, luminous flux density, luminance and the like) changes according to the temperature of the discharge space.
  • the reactor is composed of a choke coil 21, but it may be composed of a condenser or a complex circuit of a choke coil and a condenser so long as it limits the lamp current of the discharge lamp, and other structures may be used so long as the lamp current can be limited.
  • the starting means 22, 35, 46, 54 and 65 may have a structure that the high voltage pulse is generated by rising the pressure by a transformer, or a structure that a condenser is connected in parallel to the metal halide lamp to generate high voltage at both ends of the condenser by the resonant action with the choke coil, and any structure may be used so long as high voltage can be generated so that the metal halide lamp can start the discharge.
  • the rise of the light output of the metal halide lamps 52 and 61 is quickened and after the light output reaches the rated value, the lamp current of 6 to 7 times as large as the rated value is supplied immediately after lighting to control the output to be substantially constant, and it is so controlled that the light output is reduced continuously up to the rated lamp impedance according to the rise of the lamp impedance.
  • the straight discharge arc during the whole lighting period it is enough to supply the current of 3 times as large as the rated value immediately after lighting and to reduce it to the rated lamp current, and it is not always necessary to reduce it continuously, and it may be reduced stepwise, or it may be such that the lamp current higher than the rated value is supplied for a predetermined period, thereafter the lamp is lighted with the rated lamp current.
  • the time required for reaching the rated lighting after lighting will be about 60 seconds.
  • the lamp current of about 3 times as large as the rated value is supplied by a means to select the lighting waveform which amplifies the amplitude of the compressional wave emitted from the discharge arc, and in addition a means to supply the lamp current or the lamp power higher than the rated value for a predetermined period at the initial stage of lighting and to reduce it to the rated value is provided to quicken the rise of the light output.
  • the means to select the lighting waveform which amplifies the amplitude of the compressional wave emitted from the discharge arc has to amplify the amplitude of the compressional wave emitted from the waveform of the frequency component of the acoustic resonance frequency, but the means to supply the lamp current or the lamp power higher than the rated value for a predetermined period at the initial stage of lighting in order to quicken the rise of the light output and to reduce it to the rated value may be controlled by the waveform of the frequency component of the acoustic resonance frequency, or may be controlled by a waveform of other frequency components.
  • the lamp characteristics detecting means 55 and 56 do not detect the lamp impedance, but detect the change of the other lamp characteristics, for example, lamp voltage, light output (luminous flux, spectral distribution, luminous flux density, luminance and the like), temperature of the arc tube, and the lapse of time after lighting, similar effects can be obtained.
  • the lamp current is controlled in order to amplify the amplitude of the compressional wave from the discharge arc, but the structure may be such that the lamp power which is directly related with the generation of the compressional wave is controlled.
  • the acoustic resonance frequency of the used metal halide lamp has a characteristic to drop linearly with a predetermined gradient till reaching the rated lighting after lighting with respect to the change of the lamp impedance, but it is needless to say that since the acoustic resonance frequency is at least a function of the temperature of the discharge space and the atomic weight of the filler, when the supply quantity of the lamp current is changed, and the kinds of fillers and the composition ratio thereof are changed, the change characteristics of the acoustic resonance frequency is changed.
  • the direct-current power supply 63 is composed of a step-down chopper circuit 74 which converts the output of the commercial-use alternating-current power supply 67 to the direct current by the rectifying and smoothing circuit 68, and the output of the rectifying and smoothing circuit 68 is converted to the direct current superposed with a ripple waveform having the frequency component of the acoustic resonance frequency, but the section to convert the output of the commercial-use alternating-current power supply 67 to the direct current by the rectifying and smoothing circuit 68 may be a direct-current power supply such as a battery and the like, and the step-down chopper circuit 74 may be a step-up chopper circuit, an inverted chopper circuit, or a forward converter circuit, and any structure may be used so long as it can output the direct-current waveform superposed with the ripple waveform having the frequency component of the acoustic resonance frequency.
  • the full bridge invertor circuit 64 may be replaced with a half bridge circuit, or may be other structures so long as it can convert the output of the direct-current power supply to the alternating current. Or, even if the full bridge invertor circuit 64 is not provided, the discharge arc can be always made straight, since the ripple waveform having the frequency component which excites the mode to make the discharge arc straight with the acoustic resonance is supplied to the discharge lamp. Moreover, the conversion frequency of the full bridge invertor circuit 14 is 400 Hz to convert to the alternating current, but it may be other than 400 Hz so long as it is below the frequency of the ripple waveform superposed thereto.
  • a transistor is used as a switching element, but other elements such as FET/IGBT or a thyristor may be used.
  • the discharge lamp when a waveform in which the instantaneous voltage, or the instantaneous current or the instantaneous power changes temporally with the acoustic resonance frequency which excites the mode to make the discharge arc straight, particularly the frequency f shown by the general formula (Equation 1) is supplied to the discharge lamp, the discharge lamp can be lighted stably with high frequency without causing any fluctuation or discontinuance of the discharge arc, and further the discharge arc of the discharge lamp can be made straight.
  • the straight discharge arc can be formed and maintained during the whole period of lighting of the discharge lamp (from right after lighting to the rated lighting).
  • the discharge lamp when used in combination with the reflector, a plurality of luminous intensity distribution patterns can be realized by one discharge lamp, only by changing the lighting waveform.
  • the discharge lamp-lighting apparatus which can switch the passing beam and the travelling beam by one discharge lamp can be realized.

Landscapes

  • Circuit Arrangements For Discharge Lamps (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Entladungslampen-Betriebsvorrichtung, die umfasst:
    eine Entladungslampe (11, 31, 52, 61, 85), die mit einem Glaskolben (1) versehen ist, der einen Entladungsraum begrenzt, in dem zumindest Metallhalogen oder Quecksilber als Füllung eingeschlossen ist, und
    eine Betriebsschaltung (12, 23, 32, 53, 62), die eine vorbestimmte Betriebswellenform der Entladungslampe zuführt, damit die Entladungslampe leuchtet, und wobei
    eine Betriebswellenform von der Betriebsschaltung der Entladungslampe zugeführt wird,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
    sich in der Betriebswellenform ein momentaner Wert vorübergehend mit einer Frequenz f ändert und, wenn angenommen wird, dass V eine Schallgeschwindigkeit in einem Entladungsraummedium der Entladungslampe darstellt und L eine Länge eines Schnitts orthogonal zu einer Elektrodenachse der Entladungslampe darstellt, eine akustische Resonanzfrequenz durch eine allgemeine Formel für die Frequenz f dargestellt ist als f = V/(2L).
  2. Entladungslampen-Betriebsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, in der eine Betriebswellenform, bei der sich der momentane Wert vorübergehend mit der akustischen Resonanzfrequenz ändert, der Entladungslampe zugeführt wird, und eine Verschiebung der fortschreitenden Welle einer Kompressionswelle, die von einem Entladungsbogen ausgesandt wird in Richtung einer Kolbenwand" und eine Verschiebung einer reflektierten Welle, die von der Kolbenwand reflektiert wird und in Richtung des Entladungsbogens zurückkehrt, haben grob die gleiche Verschiebung in einem Nachbarschaftsbereich davon, der den Entladungsbogen einschließt, zumindest in einem Schnitt orthogonal zu der Elektrodenachse der Entladungslampe.
  3. Entladungslampen-Betriebsvorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 2, wobei der zu der Elektrodenachse der Entladungslampe orthogonale Schnitt eine Mitte zwischen den Elektroden einschließt.
  4. Entladungslampen-Betriebsvorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, wobei der Schnitt, der die Elektrodenachse in dem Entladungsraum der Entladungslampe enthält, eine Form aufweist, die einen flachen Abschnitt in einer Nähe eines mittleren Abschnitts zwischen den Elektroden aufweist, und der zu der Elektrodenachse der Entladungslampe orthogonale Schnitt grob eine Kreisform aufweist.
  5. Entladungslampen-Betriebsvorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei die Betriebswellenform, die der Entladungslampe zugeführt wird, eine Betriebswellenform mit zumindest zwei Frequenzkomponenten ist und die Betriebswellenform, die zumindest zwei Frequenzkomponenten aufweist, zumindest eine akustische Resonanzfrequenzkomponente hat.
  6. Entladungslampen-Betriebsvorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei die Betriebsschaltung ein Steuermittel aufweist, um eine Lampeneigenschaft der Entladungslampe zu erfassen und um die Betriebsfrequenz an die akustische Resonanzfrequenz anzupassen.
  7. Entladungslampen-Betriebsvorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei die Betriebsschaltung umfasst:
    eine Gleichstromversorgung (40), die eine Ausgangsspannung ändern kann,
    eine Umkehrschaltung (44), die eine Steuereinrichtung (49) aufweist, die mit einer Ausgangsklemme der Gleichstromversorgung verbunden ist, erfasst eine Lampeneigenschaft der Entladungslampe und passt die Betriebsfrequenz an die akustische Resonanzfrequenz an, und wobei die Umkehrschaltung zur Umwandlung der Gleichstromausgabe der Gleichstromversorgung in den Wechselstrom mit der akustischen Resonanzfrequenz dient,
    eine Drosselspule (45), um einen Lampenstrom der Entladungslampe zu steuern, die mit einer Ausgangsklemme der Umkehrschaltung verbunden ist,
    eine Starteinrichtung (46) zwischen der Drosselspule und der Entladungslampe zum Starten der Entladungslampe, und
    eine Lampenstrom-Erfassungsschaltung (50), um den Lampenstrom der Entladungslampe zu erfassen, und
    die Ausgangsspannung der Gleichstromversorgung wird entsprechend dem Ausgangssignal der Lampenstrom-Erfassungsschaltung ändert und der Lampenstrom wird gesteuert, damit er der Entladungslampe mit einem vorbestimmten Wert zugeführt wird.
  8. Entladungslampen-Betriebsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 6 oder 7, wobei die Steuereinrichtung (49) ein Mittel (47) aufweist, um eine Temperatur der Kolbenwand, die Lampenspannung oder die Lichtausgabe als Lampeneigenschaft der Entladungslampe zu erfassen.
  9. Entladungslampen-Betriebsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 6 oder 7, wobei die Steuereinrichtung (49) ein Mittel (47, 48) aufweist, um die Lampenspannung als die Lampeneigenschaft der Entladungslampe zu erfassen, und die Betriebsfrequenz, bei der die Lampenspannung am niedrigsten wird, ist die akustische Resonanzfrequenz
EP95118135A 1994-11-18 1995-11-17 Beleuchtungsgerät mit Entladungslampe Expired - Lifetime EP0713352B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (12)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP28501594 1994-11-18
JP28501594 1994-11-18
JP285015/94 1994-11-18
JP29104594 1994-11-25
JP291045/94 1994-11-25
JP29104594A JP3189602B2 (ja) 1994-11-25 1994-11-25 放電ランプ点灯装置
JP2707495 1995-02-15
JP2707495A JP3189609B2 (ja) 1994-11-18 1995-02-15 放電ランプ点灯装置
JP27074/95 1995-02-15
JP21583495 1995-08-24
JP21583495A JP3189641B2 (ja) 1995-08-24 1995-08-24 放電ランプ点灯装置
JP215834/95 1995-08-24

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EP0713352A2 EP0713352A2 (de) 1996-05-22
EP0713352A3 EP0713352A3 (de) 1997-03-12
EP0713352B1 true EP0713352B1 (de) 2001-10-17

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DE69523261T2 (de) 2002-04-18
EP0713352A3 (de) 1997-03-12
KR960019472A (ko) 1996-06-17
EP0713352A2 (de) 1996-05-22
DE69523261D1 (de) 2001-11-22
US5773937A (en) 1998-06-30

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